Measuring system

Abstract

A measuring system for detecting switching states including a signal converter having signal inputs to each of which an associated binary switching signal representing a switching state can be applied. Electrical resistors, at which an associated measurement signal can be tapped on the basis of the associated binary switching signal, is connected downstream of each of the signal inputs, wherein the electrical resistors have resistance values, which differ from each other, and wherein the electrical resistors are connected in parallel to each other. The signal converter also has a signal output, which is connected downstream of the electrical resistors in order to provide a sum measurement signal at the signal output with a sum current strength, which sum measurement signal is formed from the sum of the measurement signals, and wherein the sum measurement signal has a current strength which can be uniquely assigned to a current strength reference value.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A measuring system for detecting switching states, comprising:
 a signal converter having:
 a plurality of signal inputs combined to form a signal connection block and arranged in a plug or socket housing, the plurality of signal inputs being configured to connect to a corresponding plug or socket counterpart, wherein a first signal input of the plurality of signal inputs is configured to receive a first binary switching signal that represents a first switching state and a second signal input of the plurality of signal inputs is configured to receive a second binary switching signal that represents a second switching state, 
 a first electrical resistor connected downstream of the first signal input and configured for a first measurement signal with a first current strength to be tapped based at least in part on the first binary switching signal, 
 a second electrical resistor connected downstream of the second signal input and configured for a second measurement signal with a second current strength to be tapped based at least in part on the second binary switching signal, the second electrical resistor having a resistance value that is different from a resistance value of the first electrical resistor, and wherein the second electrical resistor is connected in parallel to the first electrical resistor, and 
 
 a signal output, wherein the first electrical resistor and the second electrical resistor are connected upstream of the signal output to provide a sum measurement signal with a sum current strength at the signal output wherein the sum measurement signal is formed from the sum of the first measurement signal and the second measurement signal, wherein the sum measurement signal has a current strength value uniquely assigned to a current strength reference value from a plurality of current strength reference values; and 
 a controller configured to receive the sum measurement signal and to determine the first switching state and the second switching state based at least in part on the sum current strength of the sum measurement signal, wherein the controller is further configured to determine the first binary switching signal and the second binary switching signal from the current strength value. 
 
     
     
       2. The measuring system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first measurement signal has a predetermined current strength and the second measurement signal has a further predetermined current strength, and 
 the sum measurement signal is increased by the respective predetermined current strength when the associated binary switching signal is switched on. 
 
     
     
       3. The measuring system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to:
 assign the sum measurement signal to a reference value from a plurality of reference values, wherein a unique combination of switching states is assigned to each reference value based at least in part on a reference value table to uniquely determine the switching states based at least in part on the assignment of the sum measurement signal to the reference value. 
 
     
     
       4. The measuring system of  claim 1 , wherein the signal output is configured to:
 provide an output signal with a current strength in a predetermined range based at least in part on the first binary switching signal and the second binary switching signal, the predetermined range being between 0 mA and 31 mA. 
 
     
     
       5. The measuring system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first switching element; and 
 a second switching element, wherein:
 the first switching element is connected upstream of the first signal input and configured to switch a signal line to apply the first binary switching signal to the first signal input, and 
 the second switching element is connected upstream of the second signal input and configured to switch a further signal line to apply the second binary switching signal to the second signal input. 
 
 
     
     
       6. The measuring system of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the first switching element is arranged at a distance from the first signal input and is connected to the first signal input by the signal line, and 
 the signal line is configured to route the first binary switching signal unchanged from the first switching element to the first signal input independently of the distance. 
 
     
     
       7. The measuring system of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the first measurement signal is a status signal of the first binary switching signal, wherein a switched-on state or a switched-off state of the first switching element is based at least in part on the first measurement signal, and 
 the second measurement signal is a further status signal of the second binary switching signal, wherein the switched-on state or the switched-off state of the second switching element is based at least in part on the second measurement signal. 
 
     
     
       8. The measuring system of  claim 5 , wherein an unambiguous sum measurement signal is assigned to each switching combination of the first switching element and the second switching element based at least in part on the first electrical resistor and the second electrical resistor being connected in parallel. 
     
     
       9. The measuring system of  claim 5 , wherein the resistance value of the first electrical resistor and the resistance value of the second electrical resistor connected in parallel are selected so that the different sum measurement signals, in accordance with the switching combination of the first switching element and the second switching element, have a minimum current strength distance. 
     
     
       10. The measuring system of  claim 1 , wherein the measuring system is supplied with electrical energy via the signal output, the electrical energy being supplied by a supply voltage. 
     
     
       11. The measuring system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an energy source configured to supply the measuring system with electrical energy to generate the first measurement signal, the second measurement signal, or both. 
 
     
     
       12. The measuring system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of electrical resistors, wherein an electrical resistor is connected downstream of each signal input of the plurality of signal inputs and the plurality of electrical resistors are connected upstream of the signal output in parallel to one another. 
 
     
     
       13. The measuring system of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of electrical resistors is configured to:
 provide an associated measurement signal at the signal output in accordance with the associated binary switching signal, each signal combination of the measurement signals at the signal output having an equidistant current distance to the respective adjacent signal combinations. 
 
     
     
       14. The measuring system of  claim 1 , wherein the signal output has a first connection pole and a second connection pole coupled to one another by an electrical base resistor, wherein a sum measurement signal with a minimum current strength is provided at the signal output based at least in part on the electrical base resistor. 
     
     
       15. The measuring system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an isolating amplifier connected upstream of the signal output and configured to provide a supply voltage at the signal output, wherein the isolating amplifier is further configured to evaluate the sum measurement signal and convert a control signal according to a reference value table and to provide it at the signal output. 
 
     
     
       16. The measuring system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to:
 evaluate the sum measurement signal and to indicate an error state if the sum measurement signal falls below a first current limit value or exceeds a second current limit value. 
 
     
     
       17. A method for detecting switching states, comprising:
 applying a first binary switching signal to a first signal input, the first binary switching signal representing a first switching state; 
 applying a second binary switching signal to a second signal input, the second binary switching signal representing a second switching state, wherein the first signal input and the second signal input are in a plurality of signal inputs combined to form a signal connection block and arranged in a plug or socket housing, the plug or socket housing being configured to connect to a corresponding plug or socket counterpart; 
 tapping, based at least in part on the first binary switching signal, a first measurement signal with a first current strength at a first electrical resistor connected downstream of the first signal input; 
 tapping, based at least in part on the second binary switching signal, a second measurement signal with a second current strength at a second electrical resistor connected downstream of the second signal input, the second electrical resistor having a resistance value that is different from a resistance value of the first electrical resistor and being connected in parallel to the first electrical resistor; 
 summing the first measurement signal and the second measurement signal, wherein a sum measurement signal with a sum current strength is provided at a signal output based at least in part on summing the first measurement signal and the second measurement signal, wherein the first electrical resistor and the second electrical resistor are connected upstream of the signal output, and wherein the sum measurement signal has a current strength value uniquely assigned to a current strength reference value from a plurality of current strength reference values; 
 receiving the sum measurement signal; 
 determining the first switching state and the second switching state based at least in part on the sum current strength of the sum measurement signal; and 
 determining the first binary switching signal and the second binary switching signal from the current strength value. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 assigning the sum measurement signal to a reference value from a plurality of reference values, wherein a unique combination of switching states is assigned to each reference value based at least in part on a reference value table; and 
 uniquely determining the switching states based at least in part on the assignment of the sum measurement signal to the reference value. 
 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 providing an output signal with a current strength in a predetermined range based at least in part on the first binary switching signal and the second binary switching signal, the predetermined range being between 0 mA and 31 mA. 
 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 switching, by a first switching element connected upstream of the first signal input, a signal line, wherein the first binary switching signal is applied to the first signal input based at least in part on switching the signal line; and 
 switching, by a second switching connected upstream of the second signal input, a further signal line, wherein the second binary switching signal is applied to the second signal input based at least in part on switching the further signal line.